Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Harold R. Holmyard III" <hholmyard AT ont.com>]

Dear Herman,

> 2005/11/22, Peter Kirk <peter AT qaya.org>:> On 22/11/2005 05:42, 
> Herman Meester wrote:>> >First of all we would have to be happy that 
> Alter respected Hebrew> >syntax unlike virtually all other commonly 
> used translation, that in> >fact all misunderstand Genesis' 
> ouverture.> >> >>> Well, I can argue that one with you if you like, 
> but it is a separate> issue. I don't think you will find any other 
> place in the Hebrew Bible> where a WAYYIQTOL verb is preceded by a 
> clause subordinate to it, which> seems to be Alter's grammatical 
> understanding. The only objection to the> traditional "In the 
> beginning God created..." understanding is that the> first word of 
> the Bible is indefinite and possibly construct - but then> possibly 
> that very first vowel point was really intended to be qamats> rather 
> than sheva.
> (I decided not to discuss with English speakers the things that 
> aregrammatically correct or not in English, because as a 
> non-nativespeaker I wouldn't really be able to judge.)
> However, here I do strongly disagree with those who want to keep 
> thetraditional translation "In the beginning G"d created...". It 
> issimply not what the Hebrew says.

HH: The way you run your text together with the person you're 
responding to sometimes results in a big mass of words and is 
confusing. It would be good if you could separate your response from 
the person's writing to whom you're responding.

HH: I just ran a search in the OT and there is not one other place 
where BR)$YT is followed by a verb.

>  If we say that the masoretes made a mistake, thisamounts to 
> insult.Does anyone really think that the masoretes didn't see the 
> problem ofGen. 1,1-3?

HH: I agree, but perhaps R)$YT can be used definitely without the 
article. This happens with numerous basic words in various languages. 
In Isa 46:10 the expression MR)$YT means "from the beginning," even 
though there is no definite article. R)$YT is used without the 
article at Prov 4:7, where it means something like "the first thing" 
or "the primary thing."

>  First it says that G"d created"heaven and earth", in other words, 
> "everything", and then it goed ondescribing al the things that 
> happened? I don't think so.

HH: Hebrew narrative often gives summary statements or overviews and 
then fills in the details or gives the story in detail. Genesis 1:1 
can summarize what the whole chapter will discuss. There is also an 
intervening declarative statement in verse 2.

                                Yours,
                                Harold Holmyard